Motor vehicle



Dec. 22, 1942. 1 L. CUSTER 2,306,042

MOTOR VEHICLE L. L. CUSTER MOTOR VEHICLE Dec. 22, 1942.

Filed April 29. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Moron VEHICLE p Levitt 1 Custer, Dayton, 0h10 tApplication April 20, 1939, serial No. 270,794

` 4 claims. (ci. 18a-2c) This invention relates to'motor vehicles andmore particularly to motor vehicles of the three wheel type wherein therear wheel is used for propelling the vehicle. 1

An object of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle that may beeasily constructed, that isl a controller that releases the brakes whenthe driving mechanism is connected and releases the driving mechanismwhen the brakes are applied.

Another object of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle havingthe drivers position located to the rear of the passengers.

Another object of this invention is to provide control mechanism that islocated exclusively to the rear of the passexgrs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a brake mechanism forarresting the movement of the prime mover.

Another object of this invention is to provide a. single rear wheeldrive, steeringA and brake wheel for a motor vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to piivide a steering wheel thatalso functions as a brake wheel for a motor vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide an effective brake devicefor a three wheel motor vehicle wherein the brake device in addition to,arresting linear movements also arrests rotary movement of the motorvehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a brake that is appliedthrough speed reducing mechanism.

Another objectof this invention is to provide a three wheel motorvehicle with the pilot seat located to the rear of the passenger seats.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, thecombination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become-moreapparent from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the motor vehicle. A

Figure 2 is a side elevation with part of the body broken away, so as todisclose portions of the driving mechanism.

Figure 3 is an 'enlarged details View of the driving mechanism as viewedfrom the side.

`\ Another object of this'inention is to provide l5 Figure 4 is anotherview of the driving mechanism asviewed from the rear.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the control and brake treadle.

In the past three wheel motor vehicles have been used wherein the thirdwheel functions as a drive wheel and as a steering wheel, either as afront wheel drive or as a rear wheel drive. In this type of drive, ithas been common practice 1o lto utilize the two idle wheels as the brakewheels.

, Ihe brakes are applied to the pair of wheels, which happens to be avery convenient arrangement from a structural standpoint; but thisarrangement results ln very ineffective brakes, especially forpreventing rotation or spinning of the vehicle. In other words, when allthree wheels are directed in one direction, the two wheel brakes arevery effective; but when the motor vehicle is turning, the two wheelbrakes are' not very effective, due to the fact that when a third wheeldrive is used, the driving mechanism associated with the third wheel,and usually carried thereby, is comparatively heavy, so that the inertiaof this mass tends to spin the two wheels about a pivot located betweenthese wheels when the vehicle is making a sharp turn, that is, this massresults in a lateral torque being'applied to the motor vehicle by thismass concentrated above the third wheel.

In the'present embodiment, this has been overcome by utilizing the drivewheel and the steerin\ wheel as the, brake wheel. The brakes then areapplied directly below the mass supported by the third wheel and thedrive wheel. When this third wheel is used as a brake wheel it resultsin very effective brakes being applied to the motor vehicle, in thatthese brakes, in addition to stopping the linear movement, are also veryeffective in arresting rotary or spinning movement of the 40ImotOrvehicIe, in that the brakes are applied at the greatest distancefrom the of rotation.

As referred to above, the brake mechanism is usual vertical axis appliedso as to arrest the normal linear move-v ment of the motor vehicle whenit is proceedin g along a straight line and in addition thereto,

from its linear movement.

arrest the lateral torque movement at the source of origin, which torquemovement is normally utilized to change the course of the motor vehicleBy applying the brake directly to the armature shaft of the motor, theapplication of this brake not only tends to stop or arrest the movementof a wheel; but in addition thereto, simultaneously arrests the movementor the vrotation of the prime mover.

concentrated above the drive wheel would exert tortional stresses in thebody of the motor -vehicle in the absence of a brake mechanism for.`

arresting the movement of the drive wheel.

These tortional stresses would be especially -pronounced when thedrivewheel is rotated or oscillated, so as to turn the motor vehicle withinits own space. When the motor vehicle 'makes a sharp turn, the forceexerted by the drive wheel is substantiallyparallel to the axis passingthrough the idle wheels, so as to cause the motor vehicle to pivot abouta point intersecting 'the axis interconnecting `the idle wheels. By

applying the brakes to the idle wheels, this sideward pull of the drivewheel results in tremendous stresses in the body of the vehicle and veryeffectively overcomes the resistance of the brakes if the brakes wereapplied to the side wheels. The effectiveness of the brakes is fur-.ther increased by being applied, as already stated, directly `to theprime mover, which -has been designed to rotate at a higher vrate ofspeed than that of the drive wheel.

Referring to the drawings, the body I of the motor vehicle has asubstantially oval contour;

as viewed from the side. Near the forward end oi the body is located aseat I2V provided with a back rest Il, 'so that passengers riding in themotor vehicle have an unobstructed view to the front and to the sides ofthe motor vehicle. 'I'his results in the motor vehicle being very welladapted as a sight-seeing chair or motor vehicle in amusement parks,fairs and elsewhere where such motor transportation is desirable.

For the convenience of the occupants of the chair or seat, a footboardI6 angularly disposed is mounted immediately in front of the seat. Thefootboard II is preferably protected by a suitable bumper I8 whichprojects ahead of the motor vehicle a sufficient distance so as toprotect the occupants of the motor vehicle.

The forward end of the body or chassis III of the motor vehicle issupported upon a pair of front wheels 2li, one on either side. Thesewheels are journalled upon suitable bearings ixedly z mounted in place.'Ihe only purpose of these `wheels is to support the forward end of thevelhicle. in that a third rear wheel 22 is used for propelling the motorvehicle. for supporting the rear end, for applying the brakes and forsteering or guiding the motor vehicle, aswill appear more fully from thedescription of the driving and steering mechanism which follows.

The rear -wheel 22 is rotatably mounted upon an axle or spindle mountedin a forked member 2i and held in position by a plurality of nuts 28.Suitable bearings are used to rotatably supactuated by a chain havingthe forward end passed over a sprocket 48 flxediy attached to a steeringshaft or column il supporting a steer.

ing wheel l2. The steering wheel l2 is mmmd to the rear of the seat I2and directly in front of a drivers seat or pilots seat 54, so that thepilots seat is mounted to the rear of the passenger seats and on ahigher level. 'I'he chauffeur or driver is seated to the rear of thepassengers, but on a higher level, so that the driver may have a clearview. as to the course of the motor vehicle, but at the same time be sopositioned as to be out of the normal range of vision of the passengers.Another advantage of this arrangement is the ease with which the drivermay describe the views in the vicinity of the passengers.

If the ldriver were to be positioned in front of,

the passengers, as is the chaueur in convenf tional automobiles.. it israther diflicult for the driver or guide to carry on a conversation withthose in the rear seat. By the drivers seat being located to the rearand on a higher level than the passengers, the driver of the motorvehicle can carry on a conversation, explaining to the l passengers thescenes without turning his-head and without lifting his eyes from theroad or path immediately ahead of the motor vehicle.

.In changing the course of a motor vehicle utilizing the frontV wheelsas steering wheels, the veering of the front wheels in one directionresults in the veering of the motor vehicle in the same direction. Whenthe rear wheel is used in steering a motor vehicle, the veering of therear wheel in one direction results in the veerins of the motor vehiclein the opposite direction. That being the case, instead of a directconnection from the steering column to the steering mechanism port thewheel 22 upon the spindle 24. 'Ihe upv per end of the forked member 26is attached to a suitable vertical shaft 30 mounted in a bearing 32-flxedly mounted in a pair of transverse members 3l xedly attached tothe body ofthe motor vehicle. y As best seen in Figure .2, the upper endof the shaft 3l supports a gear 4l meshing with a pinion 42 ilxed to asprocket M of the front wheels, as used in conventional automobiles. areverse connection is desirable when a rear wheel drive is used. Thispermits the driver of the motor vehicle to veer the forward kedge of thesteering wheel in the direction it is desirable to veer the motorvehicle. By providing the pinion 42 meshing with the gear 4I, thisreversal of direction is produced. Due to the fact l that the re'arwheel is also used as a driving wheel. which will be described morefully later, it is possible to turn the steering wheel 22 so as to forinsubstantially-right angles with the longitudinal length of the motorvehicle, thereby causing the motor vehicle to turn around insubstantially its own area. This is very desirable where the motorvehicle is used in carrying passengers in crowded areas.

In order to reverse or back the motor vehicle. it is merely necessary torotate the shaft Il through so as to reverse the wheel 22, which alsopropels the motor vehicle, as will be described more fully later.'

The shaft Il, dir ectly above the fork. supports a bracket 8l thatnormally extends rearfwardly. The bracket il supports a prime mover,such as an electric motor 62, the armature shaft of which supports apulley M over which passa a v-belt 66, extending over a pulley 6l nxedlyattached so as to rotate in unison with a pulley l1li driving a belt 12passing over a pulley 1l, fixedly attached to the side of the drivewheel 22. Instead of the belt 12, a chain or any other type of drivingmechanism| could be used.

In order to properly tension the V-belt it and the belt 12, the pulleys.and 'Il have been journalled upon a pintle mounted in an arm Ilpivotally supported upon a bracket l2 at Il. This bracket 82 is providedYwith a pair of upwardly directed portions 84 and 86, as best seen inFigure 3. These members 94 and 86 support a pair of oppositely disposedset screws 66 and 90 respectively, so that the V-belt 66 may betensioned or loosened by adjusting the set screw and 90, so as to shiftmember 99 to the left or to the right, as viewed in Figure 3. Thebracket 02 is also pivotally mounted at 92 to one of the sides of theforked member 26. Bracket 02 may be adjusted by a set screw 94 mountedin an arm 96 extending outwardly from one of the forked members 26 andby a second set screw 98 engaging the upwardly directed portion 86 ofthe bracket 82. By adjusting set screws 94 and 98, the belt 'I2 may beproperly tensloned.

The dimensions lof the pulleys have been selected so as to produce aspeed reducing mechanism for driving the rear wheel 22 from the primemover 62. Any gear ratio may be selected to accomplish the desiredresults.

The motor 62 is energized from storage batteries not shown that arepreferably mounted underneath the seat |2. One terminal of the stor.

age battery is connected through a sliding contact |00 engaging aconductor |02 extending through the center of the shaft 30 so as topermit the lead not shown to extend from the lower end of the shaft 30to one vof the brushes of the motor. The other brush is preferablygrounded to icomplete the circuit. The details of the electric circuithave not been shown, as this per se is not considered part of thisinvention excepting in'so far as the closing of the circuit isconcerned, which will be described more fully in connection with thebrake mechanism.

From the foregoing description is can readily be seen that as thesteering wheel is rotated, the shaft 30 rotates and with it the motorand the entire driving mechanism, so that the driving' mechanismincluding the motor is mounted as a unit in association with the thirdor rear wheel. Whenever it is desired to change the course of the motorvehicle, the motor and the driving mechanism is rotated with the shaft30 andwith the steering Wheel 22. This results in aconsiderable massbeing concentrated directly above the driving wheel. In addition to thismass, the pilots seat is located between the front wheels and the rearwheels, so that the weight of the driver is in part supported upon thethird and driving wheel.

In the present embodiment the drive wheel has also been used as a brakewheel. The brakes are applied directly to the prime mover. 'I'his hasbeen accomplished by mounting a brake drum I0 on the armature shaftopposite the pulley 64. A brake band ||2 surrounding the brake drum ||0may be tightened by a brake applying mechanism, which will now bedescribed. Asmay best be seen by referring to Figure 2, a treadle ||4 ispivotally mounted upon a pair of brackets ||6 and ||8 iixedly attachedto the floor of the body I0. This treadle ||4 is mounted for oscillatorymovement, so that when one end is lowered from neutral position, thecircuit through the motor is closed and when the opposite end islowered, the circuit through the motor is opened and the brake isapplied.

The brake band ||2 is tightened through a system of brake links andlevers including a link having one end pivotally mounted to the treadle||4 and the other end connected to a leverl |2| pivotailyvmounted to abracket |22. The opposite end oi' lever |2| is connected by a portionforming forlm |26a and |26b, pivoted to the transverse members 34 andstraddling a quill |22. This'quill |20 is provided with a radially,`

disposedv collar portion |20 abutting a bifurcated end |34 of member |30keyed to a shaft llljournalled in a suitable bearing |40, supported upona housing ofthe motor 62 and extending substantially parallel to thearmature shaft. The opposite end of the shaft |38 supports an arm |42supporting the end of the brake band I2 through' a threaded portion ||2apermitting tightening or loosening of the brake band 2. If the treadle||4 is rotated so as to raise the end of lever |20 pivotally attachedthereto, the link |24 is pulled downwardly, thereby forcingthe forkedend |34 of member |36 downwardly, so as to rotate the shaft |39 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, thereby tighteningthe brake band ||2 about th'e brake drum ||0.

link |24 to a lever |26 provided with a bifurcated 75 From the foregoingdescription it may readily be seen that the effectiveness ofthe forceapplied to the brake drum ||0 is multiplied by the speed reducingmechanism including the relative sizes of the pulleys, so that a verysmall force applied to'the brake drum ||0 results in an extremely largeforce being applied to the wheel 22. In other words, the speed reducingmechanism is the equivalent of a lever having th'e fulcrum nearer theload than the point of application of the force. This is very desirable,in that an effective brake is essentialin a motor vehicle that `is usedfor the purpose for which the motor vehicle disclosed herein is to beused, in that the motor' vehicle may be used for carrying passengersamong pedestrians wh'ere the motor vehicle must be under the absolutecontrol of the driver at all times. :The arrangement of the treadle forclosing the circuit when oscillating in one direction and for applyingthe brakes when oscillating in the opposite direction, results in acontrol mechanism for a motor vehicle whereby it is physi callyimpossible vto apply the brakes whenthe current is supplied to themotor. The application of the brakes automatically interrupts thecircuit to the motor.

In Figure 2 the treadle has been shown mounted for free rotation,excepting the resistance oilered by the brake mechanism and the switchmechanism. In Figure 5 a detailed locking or restraining mechanism hasbeen shown for either locking or restraining the free movement of thetreadle. 'I'heswitch restraining mechanism, shown schematically, will bedescribed rst. This switch mechanism includes a plurality of groups ofmovable contacts a, b and c, supported upon a member |54 held in iix'edspaced relation under the treadle ||4 by a pair of spacers |50 and |52.These contacts a, b and c are preferably connected to the batteries, soas to supply various voltages to the motor through a stationary contact|56 slidingly engaging one. group of contacts a, b or c. The treadlealso supports a notched bracket |60 providedlwith a plurality of notches|60c, |60b and |60c, one for each' of the contacts a, b and c.

A restraining member |62, pivotally mounted at |64 and urged in acounterclockwise direction by a spring |66, supports a roller or stud|68 adapted to be seated in one of the notches |60c, |6011 or |60c whenthe xed contact |56 is in engagement with the group of contacts a.- b orc. The roller or pin |68 being urged in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Figure 5, restrains the free movement of the treadle ||4 whenone group of contact |58. By rotating the treadle ||4 in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Figure 5, the succeeding group oi'contacts isadvanced into engagement with thek stationary rcontact lll.Thisincreases the speed oi! the motor,v so as to increase'the speed ofthe vehicle. In other words, the group of contacts 'a compares with highspeed, contacts b with intermediate and'contacts c with low speed.Whenever it is desirable to arrest the movement of the motor vehicle orslow speed, it is merely necessary to rotate the'treadle in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, so as to open theswitch or the contacts in the electric circuit, at which time thetreadle moves'into neutral position. By continuing the rotation of thetreadle Ill in a counterclockwise direction, the brakes are applied, ashas already been described.

As the brakes are applied a pawl pivotally mounted at |12 and biased ina counterclockwise direction by a spring |14, normally engages one of aseries of notches or teeth in ratchet member |18 attached to the underside of the treadle. Thus, it is seenA that as the brakes are applied,the brakes are automatically locked in position by the pawl |18 engagingthe teeth inthe ratchet |16. The pawl |18 may be released by a brakereleasing lever or pedal |80 pivotally mounted at |82 and provided witha cam portion |84 engaging a pin |06 in the pawl |10, so that, as thebrake releasing lever |80 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction bythe operator depressing the pedal portion |80a, the pawl |10 is movedout oi engagement with the teeth' of the ratchet member |18. 'I'he brakereleasing lever |80 is normally urged in a clockwise direction by asuitable spring |06 connected to the end of an arm |88 integral withmember |80.

If the operator desires to apply the brakes momentarily, without lockingthe brakes in position, it is merely necessary for the operator to stepon the pedal |80a with one foot, so as to hold the pawl |10 out 0fengagement with the teeth on the ratchet |16, thereby permittingthebrakes to be released immediately upon the release of the pressureexerted upon one end of the treadle H4,

Although the preferred embodiment shown herein discloses a motor vehicleespecially adapted for sight-seeing use in parks, fairs, etcetera, thistype of motor vehicle hasv merely been used for the purpose ofillustration, as the principles incorporated in this motor vehicle areequally applicable to other motor vehicles, such as `automobiles,trucks, motorized artillery, motorized machine guns, tractors, tricyclesand the like, especially where a third rear wheel drive is utilized forsteering and applying the' brakes to the motor vehicle. Instead of asingle rear wheel being used, a pair of rear wheels mounted` foroscillation could be used for veeringthe motor vehicle.

Furthermore, for the convenienceof explanation and a disclosure easilyshown for the purpose of illustration, an electrically driven motorrvehicle has been shown. Instead of an electric motor being used as aprime mover, any other type of a motor or engine couldv be used, such asa gasoline engine, alcohol engine, Diesel engine, steam engine, turbineengine or any other suitable source of power. In the event a fuel typeengine is used, this engine could be controlled by means of a memberactuated by'suitable control mechanism, which member could extendthrough the center of thek shaft down tricaliy disposed with respect tothe shaft il,

soas to control the engine. Prime mover, as used herein, is used as ageneric term t'oany type'of a motor, engine or source of energy thatadaptable for use in propelling the motor vehicle, irrespective oi' itsmike. type. construction, etcetera. y

Although'the preferred modincation of the device has been described, itwill be understood that within the purview kof this invention variouschanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the combination'thereof and mode of operation, which generallystated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forthas disclosed and deilned in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,` I claim: l. A tri-wheel motorvehicle including a unitary chassis having a floor, a pair of idlymounted front wheels supporting the chassis, a rear driving and guidingwheel, supporting means mounted in the chassis for rotation about asubstantially vertical axis, said means having rotatably mounted thereinthe rear driving and guiding wheel, a steering device for oscillatingsaid means about the vertical axis so as to guide the motor vehicle, aprime mover mounted upon said means, a speed reducing mechanism forinterconnecting the prime mover to the rear driving wheel, a brake drumilxedly attached to the prime mover, and a brake mechanism including abrake band adapted to contact said drum, a pivotally mounted actuatinglever having one end attached to the brakev band, the opposite end beingbifurcated so as to form a pair of bifurcated portions straddling thevertical axis about which said guide wheel oscillates,

to the engine, or said member could be concena foot pedal mounted on theiioor of the chassis, reciprocatory means surrounding said vertical axisand adapted to engage the bifurcated portions of said lever, and linkmechanism for interconnecting the foot pedal to said reciprocatorymeans, so that as the foot pedal is actuated said reciprocatory meansengages the bifurcated end of the lever to actuate the brake band tothereby control the brake mechanism. A

2. A three wheel motor vehicle including a unitary chassis having afloor portion. a pair of idle wheels supporting the chassis, a thirdwheel, a support mounted in the chassis for rotation about a verticalaxis in which support the third wheel is rotatably mounted, a steeringwheel for rotating saidl support to thereby rotate the third wheel so asto guide the motor vehicle, a prime mover mounted upon said support,said 'prime mover having a brake drum, speed reducing means forinterconnecting theprime moverto the third wheel, and a brake mechanismincluding a foot pedal mounted on the iloor portion, a

brake band adapted to contact said brake drum,y and a link mechanism forinterconnecting the foot pedal to the brake band, said link mechanismincludinga bifurcated lever having the bifurcated portions arranged tostraddle the vertical axis of rotation ofr said support, and recip`rocatory means surrounding the axis of rotation for engaging thebifurcated portions of said lever to thereby tighten the brake bandagainst the brake drum in response to movement of the foot pedal. l

3. In a three wheel motor vehicle, the comvertical axis, a drive andyguide wheel mounted for rotation in said support, means mounted on thechassis for rotating said support to thereby shift the course of thedrive wheel, so as to guide the motor vehicle, a prime mover mountedupon said support, a speed reducing mechanism for interconnecting theprime mover and the drive wheel, said prime mover rotating with thesupport, a brake drum connected to the prime mover, and a brakemechanism including a brake band adapted to contact the brake drum, afoot pedal mounted on the chassis, and means for interconnecting thefoot pedal to the brake band so that as the foot pedal is actuated thebrake band is tightened against the brake drum, said last mentionedmeans including a bifurcated lever having the bifurcated portionsarranged in straddling relation with respect to the axis of rotation ofthe guide wheel in said support, and reciprocatory means straddling theaxis of rotation contacting the bifurcated portions of the Alever totransmit movement from the foot pedal to the brake band.

4. In a three wheel motor vehicle, the combination including a unitarychassis, a support mounted in the chassis for oscillatory movement abouta substantially vertically disposed axis, said support including a.shaft terminating in a bifurcated fork, a drive wheel mounted in thefork, a bracket' supported upon the shaft, a prime mover mounted uponthe bracket for rotation with the shaft, driving means forinterconnecting `the prime mover to the drive wheel, and a brakemechanism for'arresting the movement of the drive wheel and therebyarresting the movement of the motor vehicle, said brake mechanismincluding a brake drum rotating with the drive mechanism, a brake bandadapted to contact the brake drum, a foot pedal mounted on the chassis,and link mechanism for interconnecting the foot pedal to the brake bandso that as the foot pedal is actuated the brake band is tightenedagainst the brake drum, said link mechanism including means surroundingsaid shaft and having a. reciprocatory movement in parallel relationthereto, said last mentioned means having a swivel connection forapplying the brakes irrespective of the position of the drive wheel.

LEVI'I'I L. CUSTER.

